As someone who was drafted 107th overall in 1990 and spent 13 years in the league I can tell you that it’s damn difficult to play a single game in the NHL; never mind have a multi-contract career. There will be some insanely talented players who never earn a sniff at an NHL game. There will be some average skilled, ultra competitive players who carve out a career. I personally fell into the average skill – ultra competitive category. In high school I can still remember my coach, Ken Martin, telling me that he had coached better players but he’d never had a more competitive player. As a 17 year-old hearing that and knowing he had coached NHLers, Olympians and Hobey Baker Award winners, I thought he had come to the conclusion that I wasn’t good enough to play professionally. I went home hot as hell and told my Dad what Coach Martin had said thinking he was going to side with me. Instead he told me that was the greatest compliment Coach Martin could have ever given me and he was correct.
There will be some players who can just flat out play and think at a different level. These are the 0.01% of the 0.1% who will be able to get games even though their “give a shit meter” runs on low. They might not stick around the league forever but they will get games. Then there will be the ultra competitive tough-to-play-against guys who just wont quit. Historically speaking and by personal experience in the league for 15 season, those are the guys who earn contracts.
While there are several different metrics to measure a players compete level; a simple one is a players 50/50 puck battle win percentage. This isn’t a perfect science because some of these players are playing in European Pro leagues or NCAA against older, stronger competition whereas some players are playing high school level hockey or U18 against same age or even younger players. With that being said it’s an easy metric, measured by InStat/Hudl that provides some insight into a players compete level. In the upcoming draft this week if we set aside the first rounders; everyone else in the draft is less than likely to make it to the NHL and even those who do, very few will earn a second or third contract. If I was selecting for a team, I would have a very hard time picking a player in rounds 2-7 who has below a 45% 50/50 puck battle percentage because if you can’t win pucks against common players – how are you going to do it against the best players in the world?
NHL Draft Prospects: 50/50 Win Percentage
| Name | Win Rate |
| Macklin Celebrini (C, L, 6’0″, 190, Boston University, 06/13/2006, Boston University) | 53% |
| Anton Silayev (D, R, 6’7″, 211, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, 04/11/2006) | 57% |
| Ivan Demidov (C, L, 5’11”, 181, SKA 1946 St. Petersburg, 12/10/2005) | 45% |
| Cayden Lindstrom (C, L, 6’3″, 210, Medicine Hat Tigers, 02/03/2006) | 48% |
| Liam Greentree (RW, L, 6’2″, 207, Windsor Spitfires, 01/01/2006) | 43% |
| Konsta Helenius (C, R, 5’11”, 180, Jukurit, 05/11/2006) | 47% |
| Igor Chernyshov (LW, R, 6’3″, 198, MHK Dynamo Moskva, 11/30/2005) | 49% |
| Zeev Buium (D, L, 6’0″, 183, Denver University, 12/07/2005, Denver) | 53% |
| Emil Hemming (RW, R, 6’1″, 201, TPS, 06/27/2006) | 47% |
| Artyom Levshunov (D, R, 6’2″, 208, Michigan State, 10/28/2005, Michigan State) | 57% |
| Berkly Catton (C, L, 5’10”, 162, Spokane Chiefs, 01/14/2006) | 48% |
| Sam Dickinson (D, L, 6’3″, 195, London Knights, 06/07/2006) | 58% |
| Zayne Parekh (D, R, 6’0″, 181, Saginaw Spirit, 02/15/2006) | 52% |
| Carter Yakemchuk (D, R, 6’3″, 201, Calgary Hitmen, 09/29/2005) | 51% |
| Trevor Connelly (LW, L, 6’1″, 156, Tri City Storm, 02/28/2006, Providence) | 45% |
| Beckett Sennecke (C, R, 6’2″, 177, Oshawa Generals, 01/28/2006) | 47% |
| Nikita Artamonov (RW, L, 5’11”, 187, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, 11/17/2005) | 41% |
| Adam Jiricek (D, R, 6’3″, 178, HC Plzen, 06/28/2006) | 57% |
| Julius Miettinen (C, L, 6’3″, 203, Everett Silvertips, 01/20/2006) | 50% |
| Jesse Pulkkinen (D, L, 6’6″, 203, JYP, 12/27/2004) | 56% |
| Cole Eiserman (LW, L, 6’0″, 196, NTDP U18, 08/29/2006, Boston University) | 37% |
| Yegor Surin (C, L, 6’1″, 176, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, 08/01/2006) | 49% |
| Matvei Gridin (RW, L, 6’1″, 185, Muskegon Lumberjacks, 03/01/2006, Michigan) | 46% |
| Terik Parascak (RW, R, 6’0″, 176, Prince George Cougars, 05/28/2006) | 43% |
| Tij Iginla (C, L, 6’0″, 186, Kelowna Rockets, 08/01/2006) | 40% |
| Dean Letourneau (C, R, 6’6″, 209, St. Andrew’s College, 02/21/2006, Boston College) | 50% |
| Jett Luchanko (RW, R, 5’11”, 183, Guelph Storm, 08/21/2006) | 52% |
| Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (C, R, 6’1″, 194, Mora IK, 10/05/2005) | 49% |
| Topias Hynninen (RW, L, 5’10”, 164, Jukurit, 12/19/2005) | 46% |
| Max Vilen (D, L, 6’3″, 190, Malmo Redhawks J20, 06/29/2006) | 54% |
| Michael Hage (C, R, 6’1″, 190, Chicago Steel, 04/14/2006, Michigan) | 45% |
| EJ Emery (D, R, 6’3″, 185, NTDP U18, 03/30/2006, North Dakota) | 60% |
| Sacha Boisvert (C, L, 6’2″, 179, Muskegon Lumberjacks, 03/17/2006, North Dakota) | 44% |
| Lucas Pettersson (C, R, 5’11”, 168, Modo, 04/17/2006) | 51% |
| Aron Kiviharju (D, L, 5’10”, 172, TPS, 01/25/2006) | 48% |
| Teddy Stiga (C, L, 5’10”, 177, NTDP U18, 04/05/2006, Boston College) | 49% |
| Veeti Vaisanen (D, L, 6’0″, 165, KooKoo, 02/15/2006) | 54% |
| Emil Stadin (D, L, 5’11”, 165, Frolunda HC J20, 05/05/2006) | 46% |
| Marek Vanacker (LW, L, 6’1″, 175, Brantford Bulldogs, 04/12/2006) | 48% |
| Cole Hutson (D, L, 5’10”, 165, NTDP U18, 06/28/2006, Boston University) | 53% |
| Melvin Fernstrom (C, R, 6’1″, 185, Orebro HK J20, 02/28/2006) | 49% |
| Henry Mews (D, R, 6’0″, 181, Ottawa 67s, 03/09/2006) | 53% |
| Alfons Freij (D, L, 6’1″, 187, Vaxjo HC J20, 02/12/2006) | 54% |
| Miguel Marques (RW, R, 5’11”, 173, Lethbridge Hurricanes, 03/08/2006) | 42% |
| Max Plante (C, L, 5’11”, 171, NTDP U18, 02/20/2006, Minnesota Duluth) | 49% |
| Matvei Shuravin (D, L, 6’3″, 195, Krasnaya Armiya Moskva, 03/22/2006) | 60% |
| Andrew Basha (C, L, 5’11”, 174, Medicine Hat Tigers, 11/08/2005) | 45% |
| Maxim Masse (RW, R, 6’2″, 192, Chicoutimi Sagueneens, 04/07/2006) | 47% |
| Charlie Elick (D, R, 6’3″, 201, Brandon Wheat Kings, 01/17/2006) | 53% |
| Dominik Badinka (D, R, 6’2″, 172, Malmo, 11/27/2005) | 51% |
| Ryder Ritchie (LW, R, 6’0″, 176, Prince Albert Raiders, 08/03/2006) | 43% |
| Cole Beaudoin (C, L, 6’2″, 209, Barrie Colts, 04/24/2006) | 46% |
| Jack Berglund (LW, L, 6’3″, 210, Farjestad BK J20, 04/10/2006) | 53% |
| Jakub Fibigr (D, L, 6’0″, 171, Mississauga Steelheads, 07/22/2006) | 54% |
| Adam Jecho (RW, R, 6’5″, 198, Edmonton Oil Kings, 03/24/2006) | 44% |
| Simon Zether (C, R, 6’3″, 187, Rogle BK, 10/18/2005) | 55% |
| Benjamin Rautiainen (RW, L, 6’0″, 165, Tappara, 07/12/2005) | 44% |
| Maxmilian Curran (C, L, 6’3″, 182, Tri-City Americans, 08/27/2006) | 44% |
| Linus Eriksson (C, L, 6’0″, 183, Djurgardens, 03/23/2006) | 53% |
| Niilopekka Muhonen (D, L, 6’4″, 194, KalPa, 02/28/2006) | 57% |
| Aatos Koivu (C, R, 6’1″, 170, TPS, 06/22/2006) | 48% |
| Sebastian Soini (D, R, 6’2″, 184, Ilves, 06/10/2006) | 49% |
| Gabriel Eliasson (D, L, 6’6″, 192, HV71, 09/09/2006, Michigan) | 55% |
| Timur Kol (D, L, 6’3″, 198, Omskie Yastreby, 08/23/2006) | 53% |
| Niklas Nykyri (D, L, 6’2″, 190, Lukko U20, 01/26/2006) | 57% |
| Spencer Gill (D, R, 6’4″, 185, Rimouski Oceanic, 08/17/2006) | 54% |
| Kamil Bednarik (C, L, 6’0″, 186, NTDP U18, 05/26/2006, Boston University) | 44% |
| Sam O’Reilly (RW, R, 6’1″, 180, London Knights, 03/30/2006) | 45% |
| Leon Muggli (D, L, 6’0″, 165, EV Zug, 07/09/2006) | 57% |
| Tomas Galvas (D, L, 5’10”, 141, HC Olomouc, 02/11/2006) | 50% |
| Ondrej Becher (RW, L, 6’1″, 184, Prince George Cougars, 02/22/2004) | 51% |
| Brodie Ziemer (RW, R, 5’11”, 192, USA NTDP U18, 02/22/2006, Minnesota) | 46% |
| Eric Nordmark (LW, R, 6’4″, 175, HV71 J20, 05/05/2005) | 45% |
| Will Skahan (D, L, 6’4″, 211, NTDP U18, 05/14/2006, Boston College) | 60% |
| Kasper Pikkarainen (RW, R, 6’2″, 190, TPS U20, 08/07/2006) | 48% |
| Colton Roberts (D, R, 6’4″, 198, Vancouver Giants, 06/08/2006) | 57% |
| Harrison Brunicke (D, R, 6’3″, 184, Kamloops Blazers, 05/08/2006) | 54% |
| Juho Keinanen (RW, L, 6’1″, 187, Jokerit, 02/14/2006) | 45% |
| Andrei Krutov (RW, L, 5’10”, 174, Chaika Nizhny Novgorod, 04/25/2006) | 48% |
| Artyom Shchuchinov (D, L, 5’11”, 154, Traktor Chelyabinsk, 10/19/2005) | 47% |
| Raoul Boilard (C, L, 6’1″, 188, Baie-Comeau Drakkar, 01/07/2006) | 44% |
| Maxim Burkov (C, L, 5’11”, 150, HC Dukla Jihlava, 06/02/2006) | 40% |
| David Svozil (D, L, 6’2″, 172, Ilves U20, 05/07/2006) | 51% |
| Tomas Lavoie (D, R, 6’4″, 225, Cape Breton Eagles, 03/31/2006) | 59% |
| Hagen Burrows (C, R, 6’2″, 174, Sioux City Musketeers, 10/13/2005, Denver) | 48% |
| Adam Kleber (D, R, 6’5″, 203, Lincoln Stars, 03/24/2006, Minnesota Duluth) | 58% |
| Miroslav Holinka (RW, R, 6’1″, 187, HC Ocelari Trinec U20, 11/10/2005) | 53% |
| Lukas Fischer (D, L, 6’3″, 173, Sarnia Sting, 09/09/2006) | 58% |
| Daniil Anatsky (C, L, 6’3″, 214, SKA-Yunior Krasnogorsk, 06/17/2006) | 52% |
| Javon Moore (LW, L, 6’3″, 190, Sioux Falls Stampede, 12/07/2005, Minnesota) | 46% |
| Yegor Graf (LW, R, 5’11”, 170, SKA 1946 St. Petersburg, 06/26/2006) | 45% |
| Tanner Howe (LW, L, 5’10”, 176, Regina Pats, 11/28/2005) | 47% |
| Anton Olsson (D, L, 5’11”, 192, Mora IK J20, 01/11/2006) | 59% |
| Daniel Nieminen (D, R, 5’11”, 177, Pelicans U20, 03/01/2006) | 52% |
| Clarke Caswell (LW, L, 5’11”, 176, Swift Current Broncos, 02/02/2006) | 47% |
| John Mustard (LW, L, 6’1″, 180, Waterloo Black Hawks, 08/16/2006, Providence) | 37% |
| Matti Butkovskiy (LW, L, 6’2″, 187, Jukurit, 03/20/2006) | 48% |
| Bruno Jalasti (D, R, 6’0″, 175, Quebec Remparts, 03/24/2006) | 53% |
| Alexander Siryatsky (D, L, 6’2″, 159, Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk, 08/04/2006) | 57% |
| Hugo Pettersson (LW, R, 6’0″, 181, HV71, 05/01/2005) | 45% |
| Marek Chaloupka (D, L, 6’0″, 188, HC Vitkovice U20, 02/06/2006) | 57% |
| Alexei Rodionov (D, L, 6’4″, 183, Krasnaya Armiya Moskva, 01/05/2006) | 56% |
| Stian Solberg (D, L, 6’2″, 196, Valerenga, 12/29/2005) | 52% |
| Luca Marrelli (D, R, 6’1″, 181, Oshawa Generals, 10/04/2005) | 63% |
| Carson Wetsch (RW, R, 6’0″, 190, Calgary Hitmen, 05/04/2006) | 45% |
| Eerik Wallenius (D, L, 6’4″, 212, HPK, 01/16/2006) | 55% |
| Hugo Lejon (LW, R, 6’0″, 172, Brynas IF, 04/09/2005) | 47% |
| Luke Misa (C, R, 5’10”, 170, Mississauga Steelheads, 02/28/2005) | 46% |
| Markus Loponen (C, L, 6’0″, 167, Karpat U20, 06/17/2006) | 50% |
| Danila Sysoyev (LW, R, 5’10”, 179, Omskie Yastreby, 04/17/2006) | 47% |
| Kieron Walton (C, L, 6’6″, 211, Sudbury Wolves, 04/22/2006) | 44% |
| Mitja Jokinen (D, L, 5’10”, 163, TPS, 03/01/2006) | 51% |
| Colin Ralph (D, L, 6’4″, 216, Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep, 10/04/2005, St. Cloud) | 68% |
| Eelis Marila (D, L, 6’2″, 192, HIFK U20, 07/16/2006) | 57% |
| Keith McInnis (D, L, 6’1″, 192, Brooks Bandits, 01/08/2006, North Dakota) | 56% |
| Matej Mastalirsky (RW, L, 6’1″, 172, HC Litvinov U20, 07/10/2005) | 47% |
| Eric Burger (D, L, 5’11”, 176, Orebro HK J20, 12/29/2005) | 54% |
| Tomas Mrsic (C, L, 5’11”, 170, Medicine Hat Tigers, 02/26/2006) | 44% |
| Oskar Vuollet (C, L, 5’11”, 175, Skelleftea AIK, 12/03/2005) | 47% |
| Ilya Protas (LW, L, 6’4″, 184, Des Moines Buccaneers, 07/18/2006) | 53% |
| Maxim Velikov (RW, L, 6’1″, 189, Krasnaya Armiya Moskva, 10/21/2005) | 51% |
| Samuel Drancak (C, L, 5’11”, 185, Red Deer Rebels, 02/04/2006) | 49% |
| Akseli Pulkkanen (C, L, 5’9″, 157, KalPa, 08/07/2006) | 49% |
| Tarin Smith (D, L, 6’1″, 175, Everett Silvertips, 03/24/2006) | 59% |
| Jacob Battaglia (RW, L, 6’1″, 196, Kingston Frontenacs, 03/17/2006) | 44% |
| Filipp Potapov (D, L, 6’5″, 179, Mamonty Yugry, 05/29/2006) | 52% |
| Maxim Ilyichyov (C, L, 6’0″, 154, Russkie Vityazi Chekhov, 03/04/2006) | 47% |
| Filip Sitar (C, R, 5’11”, 182, Malmo Redhawks J20, 06/29/2005, Northern Michigan) | 51% |
| Artur Faizov (C, L, 6’1″, 183, Mamonty Yugry, 01/28/2006) | 44% |
| Vladimir Mikhalyov (RW, L, 5’11”, 165, Sibir Novosibirsk, 01/20/2005) | 44% |
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images